LAHORE: I visited Dubai after 34 years and was surprised to see the development that had taken place as far as its infrastructure was concerned. Seeing the advancement that had occurred, it really bothered me that Karachi still has not developed the way and at the pace Dubai has, despite the fact that it has much better climatic conditions and a natural seaport, along with cheap labour. I think the ruler of Dubai is a man of vision and has the zeal to convert a desert into an oasis, whereas our leaders lack any commitment for such a vision for our own country.
Who is responsible for driving Karachi to the point of becoming a city where innocent citizens are killed every day? Our own businessmen and industrialists are moving their factories and businesses to other countries, including Dubai. I wonder who will have the vision and courage to make Karachi like Dubai and free it from the clutches of the various mafias that control it right now.
Why are those in positions of authority not able to learn from Dubai’s example? Dubai does not have its own people working for it and has, by and large, relied on labour from other countries to reach the position it enjoys today, neither does it have abundant natural resources like Pakistan. I hope that one day, the people and the leadership of the country wake up to its immense potential and set our house in order.
ST Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2012.
